Speeches by Cooper.

“The F-35 Lightning II aircraft is a cutting-edge system, the helmets for which come from my constituency, but the Public Accounts Committee has the MOD in missile lock over the cost of introducing the new nuclear freefall bombs with the F-35A. Can the Minister give the House some reassurance that the decision to bring …”

“It is important that we in this House remember that terrorists killed Members of this House, including Airey Neave only a few hundred yards from where we stand today. The Secretary of State on previous occasions has indicated that something like nine inquests could now restart. He has said that Loughgall, an exemplary …”

“Sorry, but I will not give way, because I want to make some progress. John Swinney—not so much yesterday’s man as the day before yesterday’s man—is a pound-shop Parnell trying to suborn British institutions to undermine Britain. Devolution is not working, but it is not broken beyond repair. My noble Friend Lord Offord …”

“I just gently point out that I think more Scots voted for Brexit than for anything else in the history of Scotland.”

“Devolution is not working. Instead of two Governments working in harness, Scotland has one in Westminster with its back turned to the one in Holyrood, which daily plots to break up Britain. Labour took power convinced that they were the grown-ups who would reset relations with the SNP at Holyrood. The harsh reality is …”

“The Minister will agree that the work on those trade deals was begun under the previous Administration.”

“How do you expect it to go on those public markets? How do you think it will work out for you?”

“David, if I could come to you. You have talked us through your shift from AIM on to the main market, and you have done a good job of indicating the drivers behind that. I do not know whether you would agree that it felt almost like there was an inevitability about that. Looking ahead now to the storm-tossed waters of t…”

“You are asking for a lot of presents.”

“Can I ask the same question: what do you think you are unwrapping?”

“Very quickly, looking towards the Budget, my side of the House calls it the nightmare before Christmas. If on Christmas Day companies were to be able to unwrap a present from the Chancellor, what one thing could she do to help companies access investment?”

“Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Back to the Sabs. Will the Secretary of State review the rules around sporting and entertainment events to make sure that this Government, and any future Government, are not rendered impotent in the face of the mob?”

“Birmingham’s best band is, of course, Black Sabbath and it has counselled us that: “If you listen to fools, the mob rules.” This is a case of mob rule here. The Secretary of State has done a tremendous job of setting out the Government’s position. Will she review, while maintaining police independence—[Interruption.]”

“A senior Chinese Government official invited Britain to “fulfil its obligations and honour its commitments” over the so-called super-embassy, but can the Minister shed light on what those obligations and commitments were? If he is going to say that no such commitments or obligations were offered, can we file that under…”

“For many years, I commuted by aircraft from Scotland to Dublin—so many years, in fact, that I can still recall there are eight emergency exits on a Boeing 737-800. There are two at the front, two at the rear and four over-wing exits. What a great pity that this Bill does not have an amendment that is an escape slide. W…”

“Do you think there is a groundswell towards that? You are talking about an enormous cultural change, but do you think the groundswell is in its favour?”

“Your “Growth Trilogy” report talks about risk aversion and a lack of appetite to take risks. Governments over the years have tried different things to change that culture, but it is difficult. Things like the Mansion House accords were quite successful, I think, in trying to change the culture a little. Some of us felt…”

“Do you think there is a groundswell towards that? You are talking about an enormous cultural change, but do you think the groundswell is in its favour?”

“Your “Growth Trilogy” report talks about risk aversion and a lack of appetite to take risks. Governments over the years have tried different things to change that culture, but it is difficult. Things like the Mansion House accords were quite successful, I think, in trying to change the culture a little. Some of us felt…”

“Lord Turner, briefly, do you have any thoughts? Where do we begin? Are you in agreement with that—better Harry Potter scripts?”